Ellsworth – RSU 24’s Hancock County College Transitions program and the University College at Ellsworth received a $5000 grant from the Adult Learner Partnership program of the Maine Community Foundation. The one-year pilot program provides scholarship and grant support along with learning opportunities to organizations that help adult learners transition into two- and four-year degree-granting programs.

“This grant will support our ongoing efforts to expand and improve our College Transitions program,” said UC-Ellsworth center director Lynne Witham. “This long-standing collaboration between RSU 24 Adult Education and University College at Ellsworth has been successful in helping to remove barriers for adults who pursue and complete college degrees. As we see an increase in the need of adults to complete programs or change careers, we welcome this funding as an opportunity to better support their efforts and provide additional scholarships.”

The Hancock County College Transitions program has provided 39 semester sessions of College Transitions since 2000, enrolling a total of 492 students. Many students go on to enroll and complete programs at University College at Ellsworth, which offers nearly 100 different certificate and degree programs from the University of Maine System campuses and EMCC. For more information, contact RSU 24 Academic Coordinator Ander Thebaud at athebaud@rsu24.org or 422-4794.

Adult Learner Partnership organizations receive up to $5,000 to support operations and growth of their program from the Maine Rural Education Fund and up to $15,000 in scholarship support from the Musgrave Scholarship Fund of the Maine Community Foundation for students they enroll in two- or four-year degree programs.

With offices in Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners to improve the quality of life for all Maine people. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.mainecf.org.